Science in the Classroom is a collection of annotated research papers and accompanying teaching materials designed to help students understand the structure and workings of professional scientific research.

Too Bright at Night?

Introduction

Have you ever thought about what it was like at night before electric lights were invented? People relied on candlelight, and later light from gas lamps to illuminate the night. Today, in our cities and towns, it is very difficult to find a place that is truly dark at night. While this is certainly convenient, it has created unexpected problems, particularly for astronomers.

Exploration

Read these articles to find out why electric lights at night has created some unexpected problems: